ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE, WAR AND MOVING HOME

ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE, WAR AND MOVING HOME

All’s fair in love, war and moving home as research by Saga Home Insurance shows that 42% of over 50s have found that everything but the kitchen sink is missing when moving in to their new home*.

Nearly one in five over 50s say previous owners walked off with the light bulbs – maybe because modern energy saving light bulbs are so expensive - while one in ten found trees, plants and shrubs had been removed from the garden and even the washing line had gone. Perhaps surprisingly, one in eight say that the previous owner has also ripped up the carpets.

However, older homeowners leave helpful items for the next owners such as personal notes on how things work (42%). Their kindness and thoughtfulness extends even further as a fifth have left welcome or good luck cards (21%), and an extremely generous one in eight (13%) left gifts such as a bottle of wine or a plant.

The most thoughtful people are in the South East as they are the most likely to leave things to help the next owners, whereas people living in the South West take the most when moving home.

Roger Ramsden, chief executive, Saga Services commented: “In cash strapped times it’s nice to see many householders are making thoughtful gestures by leaving cards or takeaway menus for the new owners. I’m sure they appreciate not having to cook on their first night in a new home even if they do have to eat off a cardboard box.”

Saga Home Insurance can provide peace of mind for over 50s who are moving home. Customer’s belongings are insured while they are being moved by a professional moving company and the house is also covered until the sale is finalised – for both the Saga customer and the new homeowner**.

ENDS

Notes to Editors• *Populus interviewed 8,402 Saga customers, all aged 50 and over, online between 14th and 20th December 2012. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.• **Saga Home Insurance only covers the building until the completion of the contract of sale as long as it doesn’t take more than 90 days, and if both parties have not already taken out a new home insurance policy.

What the over 50s have leftfor the next owners

Overall

Region most likelyto leave

Region least likelyto leave

Manuals for appliances

78%(Men 76%, Women 81%)

East Anglia(69%)

London(54%)

Telephone directories

56%(Men 54%, Women 59%)

South West(65%)

London(44%)

Personal notes on how things work

41%(Men 40%, Women 43%)

South West(48%)

Wales(34%)

Good Luck/Welcome cards

21%(Men 21%, Women 23%)

South West(25%)

North East(17%)

Presents

13%(Men 11%, Women 15%)

Scotland(18%)

North West(10%)

Takeaway menus

9%(Men 8%, Women 11%)

London, South East andSouth West (11%)

North West andNorth East (7%)

The previous owner has taken and leftthe over 50s without:

Overall

Region most likelyto take

Region least likelyto take

Light bulbs

18%

East Midlands(21%)

Scotland(12%)

Carpets

12%

Yorkshire and Humber(16%)

London(8%)

Plants, shrubs and trees

10%

South West(12%)

North East(6%)

Washing line

10%

East Anglia(10%)

Scotland(7%)

Saga Home Insurance• Saga Home Insurance is designed for the over 50s and provides:• Up to a 25% discount when people buy a combined buildings and contents policy online*• Up to £500,000 buildings and up to £50,000 contents cover as standard • Higher levels of cover available through the Saga Home Insurance TailorMade policy • New for old replacement of contents • Full protection when home is unoccupied for up to 60 days in a row. • For more information about Saga Home Insurance please call 0800 015 0521 or visit www.saga.co.uk/insurance**99% of people taking buildings and contents quote received a discount of at least 15%. Saga survey of quotes September 2012.